I wrote the following on Monday evening (the web has been down for a while): As I sit here writing. Josh and I safely arrived at our second destination Sunday evening. We were warmly greeted by three friends I had made last year. What a great time we had in getting caught up with each other and just sharing laughs, encouragements and genuine love for one another. We were taken to our hotel. We had supper (the flight we took this time did not serve us a meal) at the hotel. It was great seeing all of the same servers at the restaurant. I remembered most of them by name. I am praying for them that the Lord will open a chance to share more of the Gospel with them…picking up where we left off last year.
We left early this morning, took ½ hours to reach the place where the training is taking place and met with the students. What a joy to meet each of these men, who are committing themselves to such a great task. I taught for about 1 ½ hours and then went with three of the leaders (Josh taught the rest of the morning and in the afternoon) to witness one of the pastor’s engagement. The customs here are MUCH different than our own, many of which I like very much. It was an all day event between the two families and all their friends and relatives—and this was just the engagement. Family is very important here—as it should be.
When we arrived we waited with the groom-to-be (pastor friend) for about an hour. Then we had a foot washing and hand cleaning time. We then had our first of two meals together. It was very basic and very authentic. The Lord will watch over my body, one way or another. We then waited around for another hour. Then the bride-to-be came out of the house with her two best friends and stood facing my pastor friend and his two best friends. They did some different cultural things then an older pastor came and exhorted the couple in the native tongue. It was special. Then my pastor friend and the woman exchanged gifts—this brought tears streaming down my face as I sense the excitement in this couple. Their contacts up to this point have been very few—and nothing too personal… so it was like this was the first time they were able to be face to face in this way. It reminded me of what it will be like when I am before Jesus Christ some day—His face beaming towards me as my pastor’s friend was beaming towards this woman and her shy, yet excited happy look will be like ours as Christ’s bride. What a day that will be.
After this, the entire groom’s family and guests gave the bride-to-be a gift—now no one told me this. Thankfully, David one of my friends who I rode with on the back of his motorcycle for a 45 minute hair-raising, watch-out video game rides to get there, had brought an extra soirée for me to give to here. It was beautiful. He told me that since I was an older man that I should put the soiree around her head and not just her neck as all the younger men before I was doing. So I did as I was told. It was neat to stand up before this couple to be, and place around this young woman’s head this beautiful soiree. She smiled back at me as I placed it on her and shook my hand. I grinned about my pastor friend. What a great couple these two will make—both committed to Jesus Christ and the planting of church-planting churches.
We then waited again for another hour or so and then had another hand cleansing time and at our second meal. Did I tell you that another one of my friends had bought be a ‘store’ meal to eat also, thinking I would not eat during the day, which I at some of it during our last ‘break.’ So here I was eating my fourth meal, including breakfast. All of the older men—I was put into that group—that made me feel very ‘special’. I think they saw my graying hair and decided to put me with the older men who actually got to sit on a chair, rather than on the dirt floor to eat this second meal. Age does have its privileges—I can’t wait til I get me US discount ‘elders’ card! Anyway, here I am eating with the old men, watching the dogs viciously fight for our crumbs, smelling the smoldering fire near-by, wondering what was going in my mouth—you get the picture. It was just one of those memories.
After finishing eating, we started to leave (we arrived about 10:30 am and now it was about 5 pm), my pastor friend again showed up—where he had gone, I do not know. Anyway, I was able to congratulate him and his new bride-to-be Christina. And then we took off for another great motorcycle ride through bugs, dodging everything on two or four legs, not to mention all the different kinds of vehicles as a speed that would do more than just take off your top layer of skin if you happened to hit any number of objects in the road. The sun was setting. As it set in the west, I thought that in about 15 more minutes that same sun would be rising for Pam and my family and all of you back home…on your day that I was saying good-bye to. I asked Jesus to bless Pam and Heather and Micah and Alicia and Dano! I do hope you all have a great morning and afternoon as I get ready for bed.
When I arrived at the hotel, Josh was just getting ready to go eat—so guess what I did for the fifth time today—eat. We had a great time sharing our stories of our day. He had a great first day teaching the men. He is looking forward to a ‘down’ day tomorrow. I will go alone tomorrow and teach all day, since I played hooky today. I am looking forward to it as I get ready for bed. My 1 ½ hours this morning wetted my passion to equip, encourage, serve and lay before this men the greatness and glory of our God, who rules in all of His creation, in all aspects and in all ways, not withstanding anything! He is the God, who through His Son Jesus Christ has changed my heart and given me confidence in His power to change anyone’s life.
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